The company is the only unit on post to field the vehicles, which have been in commission since the early 2000s.

Though the armored 8-wheel vehicle can be modified for a range of different functions, the model used by the company has multiple sensors that can detect the presence and travel patterns of toxic materials, identify the materials and relay that information by satellite to leaders at other locations to give them a better situational awareness.

The pressurized interior of the 24-foot-long vehicle allows it to travel close to contamination areas while protecting the four-soldier crew inside, the company commander said.

The vehicle itself is a protective shell, Capt. Kamp said.

The four Stryker vehicles have been on post for a few weeks, he said. Over the next several months, the unit will be charged with learning to operate the vehicles and their computer systems.

Capt. Kamp said a big grin came across my face when he saw the vehicles for the first time, and that being the only unit on post to have them is a point of pride for the company.

On Friday morning, soldiers from the company, along with representatives of General Dynamics Land Systems, the Strykers manufacturer, were loading gear into the vehicles and preparing them for use over at the Force Integration and Modernization Facility.

The companys website says the 10½-foot-tall, 11½-foot-wide vehicles have a maximum speed of about 60 miles per hour, and a range of 330 miles.